Global rehab shift must prioritize community, rights and inclusive funding over device sales
Original framing: “[Correspondence] Make rehabilitation count: invest in people, not just devices” — The Lancet
The WHO indicators are grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), which has been validated across 150+ countries. Empirical research links function‑based outcomes to reduced hospital readmission and improved labor market participation, confirming the scientific merit of shifting focus from devices to capabilities.
The WHO's functional indicators mark a pivotal shift, yet without confronting the entrenched financing that privileges high‑tech devices, the promise of equitable rehabilitation remains hollow.
By weaving Indigenous relational models, historical lessons of disability activism, and cross‑cultural communal practices into policy, we can reorient resources toward people‑first services. Scientific validation of function‑based outcomes, coupled with artistic and spiritual therapies, expands the therapeutic palette beyond hardware. Future modelling shows that integrating community funding, co‑produced metrics, and open‑source technologies can dramatically lower disability burdens, provided that marginalized voices steer the agenda. Together, these strands forge a resilient, rights‑based rehabilitation ecosystem that transcends market logic.